Moolenaar, Khanna Seek Answers on Air Force Changes to China Aerospace Studies Institute

Chairman John Moolenaar (R-MI) and Ranking Member Ro Khanna (D-CA) of the House Select Committee on China have requested a briefing from the Department of the Air Force on changes to the China Aerospace Studies Institute (CASI) at Air University. 

In a letter to Air Force Secretary Troy E. Meink, Moolenaar and Khanna highlighted CASI’s critical role in providing the U.S. government, military, Congress, and the public with research and analysis on China's aerospace strategy, military modernization, and strategic thinking.

“Under-resourcing CASI’s mission could risk undermining the ability of military leaders and civilian policymakers to understand the PRC’s aerospace strategy and capabilities and, by extension, deter Beijing from using them in a military conflict,” Ranking Member Khanna and Chairman Moolenaar wrote in the letter. “Any potential loss of such expertise is particularly worrisome given the PRC’s continued efforts to rapidly modernize its aerospace forces while expanding its aggressive activities in the Indo-Pacific region.”

The lawmakers further warn that reductions in CASI’s resources or in-house expertise could leave the Air Force and other government agencies less equipped to assess the China’s military capabilities, potentially forcing them to rely on costly outside contractors to fill critical knowledge gaps. As China continues to advance its military technology, access to reliable, specialized research will remain essential to informing defense planning and national security policy, the lawmakers added.

“Understanding the PLA’s capabilities in these domains is critical for deterring conflict and, as stated in CASI’s charter, for ‘improving [the U.S.] ability to be successful in strategic competition,’” the Members concluded. “As the PLA continues to expand its aerospace capabilities, our need to understand these advancements will continue to grow.”

Read the full letter here.